Hand grip for use on rope type ski tows



NOV. 10, E, G. ABDELLA 2,301,842

HAND GRIP FOR USE .ON ROPE TYPE SKI TOWS Filed Feb. 21, 1941 2sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR.

E. dwar'd E.Abdella avg: q

ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 10, 1942. E. G. ABDELLA 2,301,842

HAND GRIP FOR USE ON ROPE TYPE SKI TOWS Filed Feb. 21, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4.

INVENTOR.

E.dwar'd E1. Abdalla ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 10, 1942 l 1 Edward G. Abdella, Gloversville, N. Y.Application February 21,1941, Serial No. 380,075

2 Claims. (Cl. 104-202) This invention relates to improvements in skitowapparatus.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a hand gripwhich may be used by skiers tofacilitate the gripping of a tow rope -orcable. 1 v

his well known to those who participate in the sport of skiing, wherereturn cables or ropes are provided for hauling skiers up a steep slope,that it is very fatiguing to grip the tow cable for any length of time.That 'is true because mittens or gloves furnish poorgripping surfaces.

Furthermore, tow cables of anylengthare sub Ject to circumferentialtwisting andlajteral vibration, so that it isvery difll'cult to maintaina grip Figure 8, is a fragmentary perspective 1 view showing how theouter. mitten or glove engaging surface ofthe grip may be grooved orserrated in order to facilitate the grasp of the wearer's hand upon theimproved grip.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only apreferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generallydesignate the improved grip which is adapted to be grasped in the palmof the mittenB of a wearers hand for flrm engagement upon a tow cable orrope C, or upon a ski pole D.

It is well known to those skilled in the art that.

' ski ropes such as shown at C-are relatively small for any length oftime. Tow ropes and cables are waxed and freq'uently: become iced, sothat sometimesthe skier will encircle'an arm about the rope or hold therope against the body. All

' of this not "only'tends to produce muscular fatigue but also. causessoiling of mittens, gloves and body garments. To overcome thesedisadvantages, I have provided an improved grip; which may or may not beformed as part. of the glove of a wearer; which will enable individualsnot onlyto have a larger gripping-area-upon the rope; and which willenable the rope to be firmly env gaged with but little muscular eflort.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improvedgripping means forv skiers by means of which the skier may use a towcable without liability of suffering rope burns.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthruout the several views,

Figure 1 shows a skier utilizing-the improved hand grip upon a ski towcable. I

Figure 2 is a view showing how the improved grip maybe used for holdingonto the ski pole.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view showing the man-- ner in which anindividual grasps the improved grip in its association upon a ski ropeor cable.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken thru the improvedgrip substantially on the line 1-4 of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross sectional view taken thru the improved rip-Figure 6 is a transverse cross sectional view in diameter, varying from1 to l /4" Frequent- 1y they are waxed and very often become coated withice. They are continually moving longitudinally andlaterally vibrating,as well as circumferentially twisting.

The improved grip -A consists of an elongated segmental grip body l0which is flexible under a fairly strong grip of an individual so that itcan be-compressed for engagement upon tow cables of various sizes. Thebody I0 inherently returns to its normal shape. It need not be asflexible longitudinally as transversely, and while preferably formed ofrubber, leather, composition material, it may informed of some plasticsand metals. It is relatively strong and durable, and while the size isnot important, it may average 6" in length. In cross section the segmentextends thru an arc of over 190, and leaves the opening designated at Iin Figures 6 and '1 of the drawings, to laterally receive the tow cableor rope C. The facing surfaces l3 and I4 defining the opening II aredivergently arranged from the cable receiving socket outwardly, tofacilitate the slipping of the cable therein.

In the preferred instance, the inner surface defining the socket of thegrip body I0 is pro-' vided with a calk surface in the nature of spiralgrooves or convolutions I4 corresponding to the convolutions of. thestrands forming the tow cable or rope, and adapted to receive thosestrands therein, in the relation shown in Figure 6, so as 1 to preventcircumferential and longitudinal sliptaken substantially on the line 6-6of Figun fil Figure 7 is a view of the grip similar to Figure 0 butshowing a modified cable gripping means.

ping of the gripwhen it is applied upon the tow cable and compressed inthe hand of a user. While size, as above mentioned, is relativelyunimportant, the walls forming the grip body III are preferably thick;the opening l2 in width is generallyfrom 1%" to 1 and the normaldiameter of the socket formed in the grip body is approximately 1%, withthe grip body in its inherent position.

As shown in the drawings, the grip body In at the ends thereof ispreferably provided with end retaining flanges 20 to prevent theslipping of the mittened hand of the user off of the grip;

thus obviating the necessity of the user comprescutting the flanges at23, and of course these V-shaped cut outs are suiflciently deep topermit of the body ID to be readily compressed and expanded. These endflanges 20' are normally from to in thickness and they may be integralwith the material of the grip body I0. Essentially they are sufficientlystrong to prevent their easy bending endwise of the tow cable. 7

I prefer to provide a hand retaining and carrying strap 30, shown bestin Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, which consists of a flexible pieceof strap material threaded thru suitable openings 3| provided in theopposite flanges 210; preferably thru the center segments 22, as shownin Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings. A conventional buckle arrangement 32may be employed in order to detachably retain the strap in position. Thespace between the strap and the outer surface of the grip body I 0, asshown in Figure 5, is suflicient to permit of the ready insertion of themittened hand of the user.

If desired, I may externally flute, serrate or groove the mittengrasping surface of the hand grip ID, as shown at 35 in Figure 8 of thedrawings.

Figure 2 shows the application of the grip upon a ski pole.Manufacturers of skiing equipment could readily supply the pole with thegrip detachably connected thereto. The interchangeable application ofthe grip to the pole and rope is quite obvious. The skier reaching thetop of the ski tow can readily remove the grip and drop it into positionon the ski pole to serve as a handle. The grip thus serves a doublepurpose.

It should be noted that the strip 30 is detachable, and it may be usedto attach the, grip to the waist, belt or pole during skiing.

As shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, the segmental-shaped grip body Inmay be provided with studs or spikes 40, embedded or otherwise attachedin the material of the grip body, with pointed ends extending beyond theinner surface of the grip body for biting into the material of thecable.

While I have above given, for illustration only, specific sizes for theimproved tow rope grip, it is to be understood that the grip may be madein different sizes and with the parts cf different dimensions, and thearrangement of parts and shape thereof is unimportant except insofar aslimitations thereto are imposed in the claims. I

I claim: 1. Ski tow equipment comprising a flexible hand engaging griphaving a tow cable gripping surface provided with spiral groovespositioned to socket the cable strands therein and to preventlongitudinal and circumferential slipping of the said grip when it isgrasped and pressed into the cable by the. hand of a user.

2. A tow cable hand grip for skiers comprising an elongated hollowflexible body of transverse segmental formation having an internalsocket adapted to receive a tow cable, hand retaining flanges externallyupon the grip body at the ends thereof, each of said flanges comprisinga plurality of relatively disconnected sections which will spread apartupon compression of the hand grip to facilitate application of the gripupon a tow cable or the like.

, EDWARD G. ABDELLA.

